The Queen celebrated English National Ballet’s 75th anniversary at Buckingham Palace alongside the company’s principal dancers on Wednesday.
Camilla, 78, looked moved as she watched Sangeun Lee, 39, perform The Dying Swan in the centre of the room, which overlooks the Queen Victoria monument on the Mall.
The event was held as part of the 75th anniversary of the English National Ballet, of which Camilla became patron last year.
Following the performance, Camilla, wearing a blue Anna Valentine dress with a Van Cleef & Arpels ballerina brooch, told the ballerina it was ‘wonderful’.
Receiving a signed a pair of pointe shoes as a gift, the Queen said: ‘Thank you.’
She joked that she would use them to show up the professional dancers, saying of the shoes: ‘I’ll be putting them to practice and making the rest of them all jealous. Thank you’.
A palace source said that Camilla was still a member of the Silver Swans and maintains her dancing to keep fit.
Among the guests at the reception in Buckingham Palace, which took place in one of the state rooms in the Chinese-themed East Wing, were choreographer Arlene Phillips, 82, and TV presenter Angela rippon, 81, who appeared mesmerised by the dancing.
Camilla, 78, welcomed English National Ballet’s principal dancer Sangeun Lee, 39, in one of the state rooms in the Chinese-themed East Wing of Buckingham Palace on Wednesday
The monarch was all smiles as she chatted to Ms Lee who was dressed in the costume of Swan Lake’s Princess Odette, complete with white feathered tutu and feathered headdress
Meeting Ms Rippon after the performance, the Queen reminded the broadcaster and former chair of the English National Ballet that it was Rippon who first introduced her to dance.
Speaking after meeting the Queen, Rippon said: ‘I persuaded her to become a Silver Swan and she takes the classes very seriously because we were just talking about the way in which dancing really is a brilliant way of getting fit and keeping fit and the Let’s Dance Organisation that I started just over a year ago is doing that now nationwide.
‘She was interested to hear that I’m working with the NHS to get more people involved in dance.’
After the performance Camilla spoke to guests while sipping a glass of cola.
Ms Phillips, the former Strictly Come Dancing judge, told the Queen that she had been busy choreographing musicals.
She said: ‘I said that dance was like a medicine and she agreed. I remember meeting her at an event after I was let go from Strictly and she was so kind, so wonderful. And she had remembered that.
‘It wasn’t a great day for me, but I was putting on lots of smiles and she had come to a show I was doing with Vincent and Flavia [from Strictly] and she said, ‘I’ll miss you and you will be missed miss.’
Camilla looked moved as she watched Ms Lee perform The Dying Swan in the centre of the room, alongside guests including Arlene Phillips, 82, and TV presenter Angela rippon, 81
Following the performance, Camilla, wearing a blue Anna Valentine dress with a Van Cleef & Arpels ballerina brooch, told the ballerina it was ‘wonderful’
A palace source said that Camilla was still a member of the Silver Swans and maintains her dancing to keep fit, adding she believes ‘dance was like a medicine’
Lee said it was ‘an amazing experience’ to dance for the Queen, saying that she met her when Camilla visited the ENB headquarters in East London last year after becoming patron.
‘I was quite nervous but I’ve never played in a palace before so it is very unique.’
Sir Rupert Gavin, chair of the English National Ballet, and Aaron Watkin, artistic director, were there to greet Her Majesty as she arrived at the event which included 50 guests comprised of dancers and supporters of the organisation.
In a short speech Sir Rupert thanked her Majesty and praised the ‘stupendous’ year the company had had.
The Queen also heard how the ENB is helping people through its Dance for Parkinson’s programme to help people with the disease and its ENBYouthCo programme.
The performance comes after Camilla welcomed actress Sarah Jessica Parker to Royal Lodge on Tuesday.
Camilla was hosting a reception for shortlisted authors, judges and supporters of the prestigious Children’s Booker Prize, which saw the Sex and the City star among the five judges.
And the Queen was full of compliments for Hollywood legend, commenting on her outfit.
‘It’s one of your many hats,’ the wife of King Charles told the actress, whose fashion-loving character Carrie Bradshaw is known for her flamboyant outfits.
‘And the one I’m most proud of,’ she replied. ‘It was thrilling, especially to be among this group, who are all extraordinary, smart and wise. We had such riches to discuss, and we are surrounded by such wonderful, exciting authors.’
